The actualisation of Ijebu State,may be in sight as Senator Otunba Engr. Gbenga Daniel’s bill for the creation of Ijebu State has passed its first reading at the National Assembly.
This development signals progress in the long-standing demand for new states in Nigeria’s South-West region.
The proposed Ijebu State would comprise nine local government areas carved out from Ogun State, with Ijebu Ode designated as the state capital.
The local governments involved include Ijebu East, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu Ode, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Remo North, Sagamu, and parts of Abeokuta.
This initiative is part of broader efforts to realign Nigeria’s administrative divisions for enhanced governance.
Earlier in the year, Honourable Oluwole Oke introduced a related bill in the House of Representatives, proposing the creation of three new South-West states: Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife-Ijesa.
The proposal aims to amend the First Schedule, Part I of Nigeria’s Constitution to accommodate these states.
The push for Ijebu State has gained widespread support from traditional rulers, political figures, and community leaders,as the old Ijebu Province,is the only province that never became a state in modern Nigeria.
Advocates argue that the new state would foster equitable development, improve administrative efficiency, and address decades of demands for better representation and resource allocation.
They also pointed out that of all the old provinces in Nigeria under the colonial administration, it is only Ijebu Province that has not yet become a state.
For Ijebu State to become a reality, the bill must successfully navigate further readings and debates in the National Assembly.
Senator Gbenga Daniel, a former Ogun State governor and seasoned politician, expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential to promote balanced regional development.
The creation of Ijebu State is expected to address disparities in resource distribution and governance within Ogun State.
